Wallboard fastener

ABSTRACT

A fastener particularly suitable for insertion into a hollow wall, consisting of a mounting plate and an integrally formed prong which projects downwardly through a slot in the wallboard. The prong includes a spring which is die cut from the prong which opens after the prong is inserted through the wallboard so the edge of the spring engages the back of the wallboard. The mounting plate can include wing-shaped flanges for receiving a bathroom fixture, a hook for supporting pictures or mirrors, a flange bent out of the mounting plate for receiving a curtain rod, or include an opening for receiving a self-tapping screw in order to retain brackets, mount shelves or furniture to the wallboard or hollow wall surface.

Unite States atent [1 1 Mauceri et al.

[ Dec. 16, 1975 I WALLBOARD FASTENER [76] Inventors: Albert Mauceri, 69Bretton Road,

[22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 511,551

[52] US. Cl. 248/217 [51] Int. Cl. E04G 3/00 [58] Field of Search248/216, 217, 497, 498, 248/221, 220, 220.5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,376,911 4/1968 Henning248/217 3,476,343 11/1969 Burrell.... 248/216 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 278,545 lO/l927 United Kingdom 248/497 o. o" o s PrimaryExaminer-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Allison C. Collard [5 7ABSTRACT A fastener particularly suitable for insertion into a hollowwall, consisting of a mounting plate and an integrally formed prongwhich projects downwardly through a slot in the wallboard. The prongincludes a spring which is die cut from the prong which opens after theprong is inserted through the wallboard so the edge of the springengages the back of the wallboard. The mounting plate can includewing-shaped flanges for receiving a bathroom fixture, a hook forsupporting pictures or mirrors, a flange bent out of the mounting platefor receiving a curtain rod, or include an opening for receiving aself-tapping screw in order to retain brackets, mount shelves orfurniture to the wallboard or hollow wall surface.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Sheet 1 of 2 US. Patent De c. 16, 1975 US.Patent Dec. 16, 1975 Sheet20f2 3,926,394

WALLBOARD FASTENER This invention relates to a hollow wall or wallboardfastener which is designed to be inserted through the wall surface sothat it can be used as asu-pport to hang or attach certain articles.

More specifically, this invention relates to a hollow wallboard fastenerhaving a triangular engaging member which can be inserted at a downwardangle through the wall surface so as to prevent removal of the fastener.

Gypsum wallboard or plaster walls do not have any appreciable strengthfor receiving surface fasteners for supporting articles to thewallboards surface. Certain types of conventional fasteners such asplaster screws and expansion screws are found to pull free from thewallboard when any slight stresses are applied since. the wallboardmaterial provides very little binding resistance to these types of screwfasteners. Other types of fasteners which adhesively secure themselvesto the surface of the wallboard have been found to be unsuitable sincewhen the fasteners are loaded, they tend to pull the paper surfacecoating off the wallboard.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved fastener whichhas a triangular prong terminating in a sharp point which can beinserted in a downwardly sloping angle through a slit in the wallboardsurface. The triangular prong preferably includes a springloadedknockout which opens up after the triangular prong is inserted into thewallboard surface so as to prevent its accidental removal. The mountingsurface of the fastening device may include a number of differentfixtures such as a threaded opening, grooves, hooks and the like inorder to support various types of fixtures.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hollowwall mounting fixture having a prong which is insertable through thewall to secure the fixture against movement.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide awall mounting device which is simple in design, easy to construct andinexpensive in cost.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing which discloses the embodiments of theinvention. It is to be understood however that the drawing is designedfor the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of thelimits of the invention.

In the drawing wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the wallboard fixturecapable of receiving a self-tapping screw;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. I insertedinto a wallboard surface;

FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the invention having a supportingsurface bent out of the plane of the mounting surface of the fastener;

FIG. 4 is still a further embodiment of the invention showing themounting surface bent in the form of a hook;

FIG. 5 shows still a further embodiment of the invention wherein themounting surface is designed as a winged mounting bracket having anopening for receiving a threaded screw;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bracket of FIG. 5 mounted to awallboard surface;

FIG. 7 is still a further embodiment of the invention having a circularopening on a raised surface of the mounting plate for receiving thepivot of a window shade;and 4 FIG. 8 is a companion'window shade fixtureto FIG. 7 having a raised slotted surfaceon the mounting plate forreceiving the opposite end of a roller curtain.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2,-there is shown one embodiment of theinventive fastener generally referred to as 10 having a mounting plate 11 and a'trian gular prong 12 which is capable of insertion through adownwardly sloping slot formed in a wallboard surface 13. A self-,tapping screw 18 having threads 17 is adapted to be threadably insertedthrough hole 16 mounted on plate 11. Self-tapping screw 18 can then beused to hold a fixture 15 against the wallboard since the threads of thescrew form a secure engagement with the thickness of the mounting plate11. Triangular prong 12 additionally includes a trapezoidal shapedknockout or spring 14 which has a securing edge 19 adapted to grip thebackside of the wall after the fastener is inserted in place. Edge 19 ispreferably spaced from mounting bracket 1 1 approximately the samethickness as wall 13 so that it will always engage the back surface ofthe wall after the fastener is inserted. Knockout 14 is preferably diecut from triangular prong l2 and initially bent out of the plane of theprong so that it will engage the back surface of the wallboard. Whenbeing inserted into the wall, the spring retracts to the same plane asthe rest of the triangular prong 12.

In FIG. 3, a further embodiment of the invention is shown having a flatmounting plate 21 from which is die cut a curtain rod holder 22 having agripping point 23. Curtain rod holder 22 is bent approximately out ofthe plane of mounting surface 21.

In FIG. 4, mounting surface 31 of the fastening device is tapered sothat it can be bent into a U-shaped hook 32 which can serve to supportpicture frames, mirrors or other objects to be hung on the wall.

FIG. 5 shows still a further embodiment of the invention whereinmounting plate 111 includes an opening 116 for receiving a self-tappingscrew 118 having threads 117. Integrally formed on the edges of mountingsurface 111 are a pair of winged brackets which are designed toaccommodate certain wall hung fixtures such as towel bar, soap dishesand the like. Triangular supporting prong 112 has a trapezoidal shapedknockout 114 which includes an edge 119 having a semi-circular openingwhich cooperates with a semicircular opening so as to receive the end ofscrew 118 when the fixtureis mounted as shown in detail in FIG. 6. Whenscrew 118 is threadably engaged through the semi-circular openingswithin the triangular prong, edge 119 is forced further downward so asto engage into the backside of wallboard surface 13.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show still a further embodiment of the invention adaptedfor receiving the ends of a window shade or curtain roller. Mountingbrackets 41 and 51 are each provided with a raised mounting surface 42and 52 respectively. Formed in each of the raised mounting surfaces arean aperture 43 and a latch opening 53 in order to support the pivot andlatch of a shade roller.

In each of the embodiments, the fastening device is preferablyconstructed of a spring type metal and the triangular prong ispreferably bent at an angle of 60 with respect to the mounting surface.The point on the end of the triangular prong can be used to drive themounting bracket into the wall surface at a downwardly sloping angle.()n the other hand, a small downwardly sloping slit can be formed by aknife or other tool in order to accommodate the fastener. The fastenersare all formed of a single piece of material and in some cases areadapted to receive the self-tapping screws. They are reasonably simplein design and very reliable since they provide a support against thewallboard surface which is spread over a large surface area so that theycannot be accidentally withdrawn.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may bemade thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

l. A wall fastener for attachment to a wallboard surface of apredetermined thickness comprising:

a substantially flat mounting surface for mounting on the front surfaceof the wallboard;

a prong coupled to the mounting surface and having a point directed atan acute angle with respect to the plane of the mounting surface; and

spring retaining means formed within the prong having an edge forengagement with the back surface of the wallboard.

2. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting plateincludes an aperture, and a self-tapping 4 screw for insertion into theaperture of the mounting surfacev 3. The fastener as recited in claim 1wherein said mounting plate includes a flange bent out of the plane ofsaid mounting plate for receiving a curtain rod.

4. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting plate isbent into a U-shaped hook.

5. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting plateincludes a pair of wing-shaped brackets integrally formed on eachadjacent side thereof.

6. The fastener as recited in claim 5 wherein the mounting plateincludes an opening and a self-tapping screw threadably engaged in theopening and engaging said spring means.

7. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said mounting plateincludes a raised surface and an aperture for receiving the end of acurtain roller.

8. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said spring retainingmeans comprises a trapezoidal shaped spring integrally formed with saidprong and bent out of the plane thereof, said spring having a projectingedge for engaging the back surface of the wallboard.

9. The fastener as recited in claim 8 wherein the projecting edge ofsaid spring and said prong define a hole,

1. A wall fastener for attachment to a wallboard surface of apredetermined thickness comprising: a substantially flat mountingsurface for mounting on the front surface of the wallboard; a prongcoupled to the mounting surface and having a point directed at an acuteangle with respect to the plane of the mounting surface; and springretaining means formed within the prong having an edge for engagementwith the back surface of the wallboard.
 2. The fastener as recited inclaim 1 wherein said mounting plate includes an aperture, and aself-tapping screw for insertion into the aperture of the mountingsurface.
 3. The fastener as recited in claim 1 wherein said mountingplate includes a flange bent out of the plane of said mounting plate forreceiving a curtain rod.
 4. The fastener as recited in claim 1 whereinsaid mounting plate is bent into a U-shaped hook.
 5. The fastener asrecited in claim 1 wherein said mounting plate includes a pair ofwing-shaped brackets integrally formed on each adjacent side thereof. 6.The fastener as recited in claim 5 wherein the mounting plate includesan opening and a self-tapping screw threadably engaged in the openingand engaging said spring means.
 7. The fastener as recited in claim 1wherein said mounting plate includes a raised surface and an aperturefor receiving the end of a curtain roller.
 8. The fastener as recited inclaim 1 wherein said spring retaining means comprises a trapezoidalshaped spring integrally formed with said prong and bent out of theplane thereof, said spring having a projecting edge for engaging theback surface of the wallboard.
 9. The fastener as recited in claim 8wherein the projecting edge of said spring and said prong define a hole,and a self-tapping screw inserted through the mounting plate and thedefined hole so that the edge of said spring means is bent into the backsurface of the wallboard.